South Korea has rapidly become one of the top travel
destinations in
Asia, attracting visitors with a combination of
unique traditions, modern advances, and stunning natural landscapes.
Au Pairs in South Korea will experience famous Korean
hospitality and
a high standard of living while staying with a welcoming Korean
Host family.
Are you thinking about
becoming an Au Pair in South Korea? You will get a chance to
learn the melodic Korean language,
enjoy delicious kimchi, and explore the
global phenomenon of K-pop. This article will guide you through everything you need to know about the
Au Pair program in this vibrant country.
While South Korea does not have an official Au Pair program, it is still possible to
find a Host Family and organize your stay if you are a citizen of a country that has a
Working Holiday Visa agreement with Korea.
As there is no official Au Pair program in South Korea, there is no specific
contract template for this country. We recommend using our
contract version, which is possible to download and personalize for your needs. It is vital to include the following information in your Au Pair contract:
The Au Pair contract
Termination of the contract
If the Host Family and the Au Pair cannot
resolve their differences or face an uncontrollable situation that disrupts the arrangement, they have the option to end the contract. It is crucial that both parties respect the
two-week notice period, allowing the Au Pair time to
find a new Host Family and vice versa.
Medical Insurance
When preparing for your Au Pair stay in South Korea, it is important to take care of your
insurance coverage. Normally, Au Pairs need health insurance that covers medical expenses, including doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription medications. You can use the services of AuPair.com’s partner companies such as
Dr. Walter or
Care Concept, which provide insurance to participants from all over the world.
Note! From July 16th 2019, any foreigner who has stayed in the Republic of Korea for more than six months MUST be subscribed to the National Health Insurance. Please, visit
this page to find detailed information.
South Korea has a Working Holiday Agreement with a number of countries, allowing young people to apply for a
Korean Working Holiday Visa. This
visa enables them to live and work in South Korea for
up to one year, giving them the opportunity to
travel and explore the country.
These are the general eligibility requirements for a Working Holiday Visa to South Korea:
-
You are a citizen of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, UK, USA.
-
You are between 18 and 30 (inclusive) at the time of application (this could vary by nationality)
-
You do not intend to bring any dependents with you
-
You need to be in good health
-
You need to have a clear criminal record and be able to prove it with a document
-
You should be in your country when you apply for this visa and when your visa is granted
-
You hold a valid passport valid for at least a year
-
You have not previously taken part in Korea’s Working Holiday program
-
You are able to prove your financial ability to pay for the initial stages of your stay in Korea (minimum of KRW 3,000,000)
-
You have a valid return flight ticket or evidence of financial ability to afford a return flight
-
You have appropriate health insurance for the duration of your stay in Korea
Please, visit the
official page of the Overseas Korean Agency to check specific requirements for your country. Note that
there can be significant changes in the program requirements and conditions depending on the applicant's citizenship.
The Au Pair visa
You need to apply for a Korean Working Holiday Visa at the
Embassy or Consulate of South Korea (or designated visa centre) in your country. You need to take the following steps to get your visa successfully:
-
Contact the Korean Embassy or Consulate in your country or visit their website to learn the specific requirements of the Working Holiday program in your country. Afterwards, you need to get in touch with the Embassy and ask them for the list of supporting documents you need to prepare for your visa application.
-
Collect the required documents.
-
Submit your Working Holiday Visa application either directly at the Embassy/Consulate or at the visa application centre.
-
Collect the visa. If the application is approved, you will be able to start your journey to South Korea.
Note! You must undergo an alien registration after arriving in Korea. Registration must be done within 90 days of entry at the nearest Immigration Office of your Host Family’s house. After you submit all relevant documents with your application, an immigration officer will take your fingerprints and give you a receipt with the date when you can return and pick up your alien registration card. It usually takes 3 weeks to process. An alien registration card is required for many activities, such as opening a bank account, purchasing a mobile phone and working legally. If you move to a different location, for example, you change your Host Family, you will need to report this to the office within five days.
The Host Family should provide not only a private room and meals but also an appropriate amount of pocket money for the Au Pair.
As there are no official guidelines for the Au Pair program in Korea, we suggest checking
pocket money rates in countries with similar living costs to South Korea. This will help to determine a reasonable weekly payment that will make the Au Pair's stay in Korea enjoyable.
According to the Working Holiday agreement, those who come to South Korea with this type of visa can
work no more than 25 hours per week.
Public holidays in the Host country are also considered days off for Au Pairs, so they don't have to work on those days. Mind that all details about working hours and paid time off should be included in the Au Pair contract.
A crucial aspect of the Au Pair program is improving your
language skills. In South Korea, there is no mandatory requirement for
language courses, because the program is not regulated by the authorities. Still, having a grasp of basic communication in Korean will definitely improve your day-to-day interactions with your Host Family and Kids, as well as locals. There are a lot of educational materials and sources available to help you with learning Korean. You can take an online or off-line class, go to a private
language school, or choose personalized tutoring sessions. While being an Au Pair is inherently enjoyable, the experience becomes even better if you decide to learn the local language.
Note! If you come to South Korea on a working holiday visa, you are allowed to register for Korean language courses only at private educational institutions such as hakwon or Korean language schools, but not for regular university degree courses, for which you need a study visa. Allowed language study periods may vary depending on what is provided in the agreement between Korea and your country.
Every Au Pair needs to be provided with a separate, comfortable, lockable
room that allows them to relax and enjoy their privacy. The room should be furnished with essential items and have good lighting. It should also be clean, well-maintained, and have access to basic amenities such as Wi-Fi. When a Host Family
prepares a welcoming and cozy room for their Au Pair, it helps her/him feel at home and valued.
These are the
requirements to become an Au Pair in South Korea:
-
You are unmarried and without children.
-
You are a citizen of Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, UK, USA.
-
You are at least 18 and no more than 30 years old both inclusive at the time of application for the visa*.
-
You are willing to live with a Host Family in South Korea for one year maximum.
-
You don't have the same nationality as your Host Family and are not related to them.
-
You have a valid passport of your country/region and a return travel ticket or sufficient funds to purchase it.
-
You have reasonable funds to support yourself during the initial period of your stay in Korea.
-
You are in good health.
-
You have a clear criminal record and can prove it with a document
-
You have never been issued a Korean Working Holiday Visa in the past.
*Please, check the details about the age limit for each eligible country here.
Host an Au Pair
Even though South Korea does not have an official Au Pair program, you can still
host an Au Pair and share your culture and daily life. Pay attention that only people from certain countries can legally work as Au Pairs in South Korea. You can check the list of eligible countries
here. As a Host Family, it's important to be prepared to provide a
hospitable home, support, and opportunities for cultural exchange for your Au Pair. This is an opportunity to introduce your guest to the Korean lifestyle, cuisine, and language, while also learning about their culture.
It is important that Host Families treat Au Pairs as
temporary family members, and not as employees. These are the requirements that Host Families must meet to host an Au Pair:
-
Having at least one kid under the age of 18 years.
-
Being able to offer meals and an agreed amount of pocket money.
-
Being able to provide the participant with a separate room with a lock (in their own home or nearby)
-
Respect the working hours of the Au Pair
-
You don't have the same nationality as your Au Pair and are not related to them.
South Korea, which is also known as the Land of the Morning Calm, offers a unique mixture of breathtaking nature, bustling city life and unique Asian culture. We gathered a list of the most exciting places to go and things to do as an Au pair in this beautiful country.
Read more.
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